The body of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader WR Varadarajan, who was missing since Feb 11, was recovered Sunday from a lake in this Tamil Nadu capital, police said.
Varadarajan's foster son could not identify the body as it was in a highly decomposed state. Later, Varadarajan's wife and other family members identified the body.
Varadarajan, 64, was a trade union leader and a former legislator. He was stripped of central committee membership of the CPI-M and all party posts earlier this month.
Varadarajan went missing Feb 11. He left behind an unsigned note seeking that his body be donated for medical research, donating his laptops and books to the CPI-M's publication Theekathir, and the balance in his two bank accounts to the party.
Police are investigating the cause of death and will hand over the body after conducting DNA tests, an official said.
Varadarajan, a qualified chartered accountant, quit his Reserve Bank of India (RBI) job, attracted by the communist ideology.
He was elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly in 1989 from Villivakkam constituency.
{{/usCountry}}He was elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly in 1989 from Villivakkam constituency.
{{/usCountry}}